Encore Chocolates & Teas

Encore Chocolates & Teas has been serving Olympia for three years and is located in a gorgeous space downtown on 5th Avenue SE between Capitol Way S and Washington Street SE.

The entrance opens up on a beautiful atrium with a Tea Bar and seating.

To the left of the atrium is the entrance to the tea shop.

The staff at Encore Chocolates & Teas are friendly and knowledgeable.  If you're lucky enough to visit when the owner is on-site, you are in for a treat.  He can tell you the story behind each of your tea and chocolate selections.  

Free samples of prepared teas are available near the entrance to kick off your shopping adventure.

The left side of Encore Chocolates & Teas is dedicated to tea and teaware.  They offer a selection of over 200 teas, including an impressive variety of  high-grade, direct-source, and single-origin teas.  

In addition to pre-packaged teas, Encore's Interactive Tea Wall offers samples of most of the available teas to see and smell.  Each sample jar lists a minimum purchase weight, which is generally two ounces with some exceptions as low as one ounce.  

Take a handy tea slip and pencil to write down the number of each tea you want and the amount in ounces, give the slip to one of the staff, and they'll present you with your beautifully packaged tea.  

The right side of Encore Chocolates & Teas is dedicated to chocolate.  Here, you'll find a wide variety of high quality, fair trade, and single-source chocolates, as well as an impressive selection of caramels.

Before leaving, don't forget to visit the Encore Tea Bar which serves 210 teas, hot chocolate, spiced apple cider, and local pastries.  I sampled their sipping chocolate which was divine and got a to-go cup of the Encore 8 Chai for the drive home.

Address:
116 5th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501

Hours:
11:00am to 5:30pm 

Shen Zen Tea

Shen Zen Tea's storefront is closed.  Their products are available online, at local farmers markets, and at cooperating retailers and restaurants. 

Shen Zen Tea has been preparing and selling quality teas at farmers markets, festivals, and food and gift shows throughout the Puget Sound for over four years.  In December 2014, they opened their first tea shop in Olympia's Capital Mall.

The interior is clean, bright, and welcoming.  Shelves are lined with signature Shen Zen tins filled with teas and tisanes ranging from popular favorites to rare and small-batch teas.  You'll also find infusers, bath infusions, syrups, and tea sodas.  

Shen Zen staff are friendly and knowledgeable.  They can prepare your tea to go, make recommendations, and provide insight into your favorite teas.  Shen Zen also offers in-home focused tea tastings for those who would like to learn more about tea in a quieter setting.

Owner Jason Chang prepared a delicious cup of Ali Shan for me during my recent visit while we talked tea.  He explained how he incorporates his background in science and art into Shen Zen and his plans for the business as it evolves and expands.  The tea shop is relatively new and you can expect to see some great changes and improvements in the future.

Drop by the tea shop and look for a Shen Zen booth at farmers markets around the Puget Sound! Be sure to visit Shen Zen's Facebook page for updates and news!  

Address:

625 Black Lake Blvd#265, Olympia, WA 98502

Hours:
10:00 am to 9:00 pm Monday-Saturday
11:00 am to 6:00 pm Sunday

Tea Lady

Tea Lady has retired and is closed for business.  We'll miss this wonderful tea oasis!

Tea Lady has been in business since 1994 and is located near the corner of Pacific Avenue and Steel Street in Olympia, Washington.  While I was new to Olympia, I found the shop quite easily a short distance from the I-5 and recognized their iconic yellow teapot from its appearance at the main entrance to the 2012 Northwest Tea Festival.

The tea shop features a selection of over 700 teas, herbals and tisanes as well as food and accessories.  They even have gluten-free treats!

You'll find a wide variety of teapots, infusers, and other teaware and supplies for Eastern and Western tea drinking styles.

I was delighted to see their selection of children's tea sets.  While I don't have a use for them myself, it was difficult to pass up such a cute addition to my collection.

Tea Lady hosts a number of local tea events.  Be sure to check out their website for news and updates. They also feature a Tea Bar which is currently open on Saturdays from 11am to 4pm.  Stop by for a nice cup of tea before stocking up on supplies.